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NBA Picks

NBA Picks: Jump Start Tonight's Wagers With These Winning Totals

It’s another day of NBA action and although the last few days have been rough on our NBA picks, it’s early enough in the season where there is plenty of time to recover.

Mavericks vs. Celtics
While Boston has been performing well this season, after their surprising playoff run last season, not too many people are suspired to see them playing well on both sides of the ball. However, the biggest surprise this season may be Dallas’ play on both ends of the court, and how well their starters are beginning to look after two of them are coming back from major offseason surgeries.

Tonight they get a chance to play one another from TD Garden, and the NBA odds have the Celtics as -4 ½ favorites. However, while the spread is inviting, the total is even more so at 204 ½ points. While it’s not even close to one of the highest totals on the board for Wednesday’s slate of games, these two teams could easily get into a shootout. Both are averaging well over 100 points per game on offense this season, and both of these teams’ matchups last season ended in high scoring shootouts, and both times the total went over.

While Dallas wasn’t able to score the ball very successfully against the Sixers, Philadelphia’s defense was not bad in that game, and their pace was slower than normal. Brett Brown has said that he wants to slow down Philly’s pace some, and that could have led to the lower scoring game. However, tonight against the Celtics, the Mavs’ pace will likely be accelerated. Boston plays at the 5th fastest pace in the NBA currently at 102.1, and while the Celtics’ defense may be the most surprising facet of their game, I doubt it’s enough to hold the Mavs below 100 points in this one. With Wesley Matthews back and playing well, as well as Chandler Parsons starting to get more run, these two teams should both finish the game above 100 points. Take the over.

Bulls vs. Suns
The final game of the evening features the Bulls and Suns from Phoenix, and the NBA odds have the Suns as -2 ½ favorites in this one, with a total of 200 points. The big injury news for this one is Derrick Rose, who looks doubtful to play after spraining his ankle in the 4th quarter of their game against the Pacers. While this definitely adds to the Suns in this one, the over might once again be the play with Rose out of the lineup.

While Chicago’s defense is slightly better with Rose not on the court, their offense is also better without Rose too. According to Basketball Reference, the Bulls have an Offensive Rating of 99.1 with Rose on the court, and 105.5 with him on the bench. The Bulls also play at a faster pace without Rose. Chicago’s pace is 96.8 with Rose on the court, and 99.1 when he is on the bench. Against the Suns, who already play at one of the fastest paces in the NBA, this looks like a great chance to take the over. The Bulls’ defense has not been great this season despite having a Defensive Rating of 98.5, and the Suns’ offense has been crushing it as of late. In their last four games, Phoenix is averaging almost 112 points per game, so against the Bulls tonight, take the over as your NBA pick.